Looks like NSW numbers appear to be holding steady. Would be good to get an increase.
Qld seems to be doing well so I can't see why we wouldn't start seeing numbers take off here?
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Grassroots Footy in NSW
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Qld seems to be doing well so I can't see why we wouldn't start seeing numbers take off here?
- Oct 31, 2016
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Qld gets a fair bit of interstate migration from VIC, that is a big contributing factor I think.
Also more NRL teams in NSW/ACT with 11, va QLD only 4.
Multicultural boys too strong for First Nations team - AFL NSW / ACT
A sea of new faces joined seasoned players at the 2024 Multicultural and First Nations and Multicultural Youth Boys Leadership Program. AFL NSW/ACT runs this program for talented boys aged 14-16 years to accelerate their football skills and strengthen their…Read more ›
aflnswact.com.au
A sea of new faces joined seasoned players at the 2024 Multicultural and First Nations and Multicultural Youth Boys Leadership Program.
AFL NSW/ACT runs this program for talented boys aged 14-16 years to accelerate their football skills and strengthen their leadership capabilities. Players leave the three-day program with tools to apply on and off the field to make them better people, players and leaders.
Highlights
AFL NSW/ACT began combining the Indigenous and Multicultural Leadership Programs in 2022 which has given participants the chance to extend their connections through footy right across the state and territory and helped them expand their cultural understanding of their teammates and their opponents.
One of the cultural highlights across the three-day program was session run by Yangkay, an Aboriginal music and art educator, where the athletes learnt the importance or storytelling through sound and imagery. The cultural sessions had a strong theme of acceptance and encouraged all athletes to be proud of their heritage, while celebrating the diverse backgrounds of all participants.
There were athlete education sessions on all aspects of footy from skills to tactics, as well as seminars on the importance of road safety (thanks to Transport for NSW), goal setting by KSquared, and resilience (Movember Ahead of the Game).
Perhaps the most exciting moment for the participants was the involvement of GIANTS superstars, Toby Bedford (AFL NSW/ACT Indigenous Ambassador), and 2023 All Australian captain, Toby Greene. The players reinforced Transport for NSW messaging and engaged in a Q&A with players, before heading out and engaging in the teams’ on-field training sessions.
The match
The Youth Leadership Program is about building great people in our footy communities and beyond, but there is also a strong talent focus. Players qualified for the program having been identified by the GIANTS Academy and Sydney Swans Academy.
On Saturday evening, First Nations team and the multicultural side went head to head at Blacktown International Sports Park.
In spite of the cold conditions, the match was exceptional standard, with players from both sides eager to show their best. The Indigenous team was coached by Josh Horvath, with Reece Gledhill taking the reins for the Multicultural team.
The multicultural side was too strong all evening, running out 77-point winners in a spirited contest. The multicultural team burst out of the blocks in the first quarter, with the First Nations boys providing a contest in the second and third quarters. The multicultural team provide too fit and strong in the final quarter and cruised to a big win.
Multicultural 13.11.89 def Indigenous 1.6.12
Best
Multicultural team star, Oliver Sheridan (Northern Districts Juniors) was judged best on ground
Support from Transport for NSW
Transport for NSW has been an invaluable supporter of AFL NSW/ACT’s First Nations Youth Leadership Program since 2014 and has imparted wisdom onto many of our young leaders about the importance of road safety and developing leadership in their community by reinforcing road safety messages to help our state move towards zero road trauma by 2050.
Thank you to Transport for NSW for its ongoing support of our young and talented leaders.
Would be good to get this data.
In saying that, I think this is the first year I've seen the data figures for NSW since covid time.
They have seemingly suppressed providing the numbers for NSW in the last few annual reports.
Good to finally get these numbers as I've been looking forward to seeing them mentioned as it would give some indication there is some positive signs in NSW participation, looks like we've turned a bit of a corner there.
The league has released figures from NAB AFL Auskick participation.
No totals from NSW/ACT which probably gives an indication they're not at where the league would like them to be (probably moreso from the NSW side) but some promising signs.
www.afl.com.au
Selected quotes:
Game promotion initiatives sparked from the Fan Hub in Greater Western Sydney, coupled with AFLW and AFL Community Camps in New South Wales and ACT, has seen a jump in participants with a parent born overseas – now making up nearly 30 per cent of their overall total – while Isaac Heeney country on the Hunter Central Coast is tracking 17 per cent higher compared to 2023.
2024 NAB AFL AUSKICK STATS:
No totals from NSW/ACT which probably gives an indication they're not at where the league would like them to be (probably moreso from the NSW side) but some promising signs.
The most awesome club just got bigger!
More than 128,000 children around Australia have joined the biggest, most awesome club of all in 2024 – NAB AFL Auskick – to break the program’s all-time registered participation record
www.afl.com.au
Selected quotes:
Game promotion initiatives sparked from the Fan Hub in Greater Western Sydney, coupled with AFLW and AFL Community Camps in New South Wales and ACT, has seen a jump in participants with a parent born overseas – now making up nearly 30 per cent of their overall total – while Isaac Heeney country on the Hunter Central Coast is tracking 17 per cent higher compared to 2023.
2024 NAB AFL AUSKICK STATS:
- South Australia has hit more than 12,000 NAB AFL Auskickers to break its registered participation record, surpassing last year’s total of 11,867.
- Tasmania has broken it’s NAB AFL Auskick participation record with more than 2,800 registered players, eclipsing its previous record of 2,491.
- Queensland has broken its all-time registered participation record hitting more than 30,000 players, with a boost of five per cent with participants with disability and girls accounting for nearly 32 per cent of the overall figure.
- Victoria has a new record of more than 43,000 Auskickers and has seen an eight per cent increase in girls participation.
- Western Australia has seen a 3.3 per cent increase in girls’ participation and is on track to record 3,000 young girls pulling on the boots.
- Nearly 30 per cent of New South Wales/ACT’s total Auskick participation figure has a parent born overseas.
- The Northern Territory has broken its all-time participation record for Auskick, with girls accounting for 40 per cent of the total.
Bjo187
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The league has released figures from NAB AFL Auskick participation.
No totals from NSW/ACT which probably gives an indication they're not at where the league would like them to be (probably moreso from the NSW side) but some promising signs.
The most awesome club just got bigger!
More than 128,000 children around Australia have joined the biggest, most awesome club of all in 2024 – NAB AFL Auskick – to break the program’s all-time registered participation record
Selected quotes:
Game promotion initiatives sparked from the Fan Hub in Greater Western Sydney, coupled with AFLW and AFL Community Camps in New South Wales and ACT, has seen a jump in participants with a parent born overseas – now making up nearly 30 per cent of their overall total – while Isaac Heeney country on the Hunter Central Coast is tracking 17 per cent higher compared to 2023.
2024 NAB AFL AUSKICK STATS:
Great to see NSW/ACT have a 30% of participants have a parent born overseas. Hopefully see numbers on the up in future.
- South Australia has hit more than 12,000 NAB AFL Auskickers to break its registered participation record, surpassing last year’s total of 11,867.
- Tasmania has broken it’s NAB AFL Auskick participation record with more than 2,800 registered players, eclipsing its previous record of 2,491.
- Queensland has broken its all-time registered participation record hitting more than 30,000 players, with a boost of five per cent with participants with disability and girls accounting for nearly 32 per cent of the overall figure.
- Victoria has a new record of more than 43,000 Auskickers and has seen an eight per cent increase in girls participation.
- Western Australia has seen a 3.3 per cent increase in girls’ participation and is on track to record 3,000 young girls pulling on the boots.
- Nearly 30 per cent of New South Wales/ACT’s total Auskick participation figure has a parent born overseas.
- The Northern Territory has broken its all-time participation record for Auskick, with girls accounting for 40 per cent of the total.
Interesting stats, I wish they'd give the number for all the states individually, but reading between the lines w.a and nsw either holding steady or going backwards. All other states some increases.
Queensland though, nearly the same amount as Victoria and nearly 3x as much as s.a, no wonder they say footy is booming up there, that's nuts. Making it what appears to be the second biggest footy state for kids and by some margin.
Your reading between the lines is accurate i'd say. When NSW numbers weren't doing so well the last few seasons for overall participation, they only mentioned female participation for NSW. Now that overall participation is doing better, we're getting numbers for NSW this year.
I'd say it'd be the same for Auskick participation.
Whatever formula they've got going up there, they've nailed it.
Hopefully they'll be onto a really good formula for NSW and in particular, the diverse communities in Sydney. Would love to see it go gangbusters out this way.
dlanod
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My daughter's squad has parents from Portugal, US, East Asia x3, India, Pasifika, France, Middle Eastern, and at least another three or four I don't know the parents well enough to tell you. 30% seems about right, possibly even a bit low (though the bigger clubs tend to be in the eastern suburbs, so they might drag the percentage down by comparison).
NSW/ACT future stars set to shine in Melbourne - AFL NSW / ACT
L-R: Lachlan Carmichael, Ty Shepherd and Noah Chamberlain will all feature in a trial match for selection in the 2024 March AFL Futures match . This weekend, young footballers from New South Wales and the ACT will take centre stage…Read more ›
aflnswact.com.au
NSW/ACT future stars set to shine in Melbourne
This weekend, young footballers from New South Wales and the ACT will take centre stage in Melbourne as part of a key talent showcase, which will serve as trials for the 2024 Marsh AFL Futures Boys match.
The trials, set for Saturday, 10 August at Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee, will feature a crucial match between Victoria Country and NSW/ACT at 10:45am. This game will be the first of two under-17 boys football showcase matches held on the day.
The NSW/ACT squad, consisting of players born in 2007, will want to bring their A game, with the chance to be selected for the national Marsh AFL Futures Boys match on the line. That match will be played as a curtain-raiser to the 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final on 28 September.
The squad was selected following nominations and consultation with Coates Talent League clubs and Academy programs.
Matches will be streamed live on the AFLPlay YouTube channel, providing fans and scouts with an opportunity to watch the next generation of AFL talent in action.
Congratulations to the following boys picked in the NSW/ACT Squad for the Melbourne trials:
| # | NAME | HT | STATE PROGRAM | COMMUNITY CLUB | |
| 1 | Lachlan | Carmichael | 182 | Sydney Swans Academy | Mosman Swans North Shore Bombers |
| 2 | Jake | Fairman | 175 | GWS Giants Academy | Ganmain Grong Grong Matong |
| 3 | Ned | Hardman | 175 | Sydney Swans Academy | Mosman Swans North Shore Bombers |
| 4 | Louis | Jans | 180 | Sydney Swans Academy | Manly Warringah Wolves |
| 5 | Lachlan | Moresi | 179 | GWS Giants Academy | Ainslie Tricolours |
| 6 | Ty | Shepherd | 183 | GWS Giants Academy | Eastlake |
| 7 | Jack | Warden | 178 | GWS Giants Academy | Mangoplah Cookardinia United Eastlakes |
| 8 | Cody | Gardiner | 178 | Murray Bushrangers | North Albury |
| 10 | Noah | Chamberlain | 191 | Sydney Swans Academy | East Sydney UNSW Eastern Suburbs |
| 11 | Kaiden | McNamara | 186 | Sydney Swans Academy | Terrigal-Avoca Panthers |
| 12 | Lucien | Sennitt | 185 | Sydney Swans Academy | East Sydney UNSW Eastern Suburbs |
| 13 | Harrison | Wilson | 187 | Murray Bushrangers | Lavington Panthers |
| 14 | Ryder | Corrigan | 185 | Murray Bushrangers | Lavington Panthers |
| 15 | Jim | Houston | 194 | GWS Giants Academy | Hay Pennant Hills Demons |
| 16 | Max | King | 191 | Sydney Swans Academy | Cardiff Hawks |
| 17 | Jarvis | Hemmings | 180 | GWS Giants Academy | Willoughby North Shore Bombers |
| 18 | Oscar | Clifton | 196 | Sydney Swans Academy | East Sydney UNSW Eastern Suburbs |
| 22 | Bailey-Dean | Latanis | 182 | GWS Giants Academy | Ingleburn South West Sydney |
| 23 | Riley | Hayman | 183 | GWS Giants Academy | Kellyville/Rouse Hill East Coast Eagles |
| 24 | Lenny | Koller | 195 | Murray Bushrangers | Albury |
| 25 | Riley | Hansen | 191 | GWS Giants Academy | Belconnen |
| 26 | Liam | Hetherton | 194 | Murray Bushrangers | North Albury |
| 30 | Reeve | Simmons | 197 | Sydney Swans Academy | Killarney Vale Cardiff Hawks |
Not necessarily all Giants territory but South West Blues have been called out so many times in this story, sounds like they're on an upward trajectory to go absolutely gangbusters in Western Sydney.
Great work, South West Blues!!!
There are plenty of young guns floating around in the AFL Sydney competitions who are set to take the next step in their Aussie rules journey.
We take a look at the 30+ young male and female unheralded talents who are shining across various divisions.
South West Sydney Blues
Utility
Is able to play various positions across the midfield, back or forward line and impact with his running power and delivery of the football. His adaptability to play all positions and improved one-on-one defending has seen his success across the lines.
Louis Jans
Manly Wolves
Midfield
An inside midfielder with a good mix of pace and power, ‘Jansy’ is a real line breaker who loves taking the game on. His dynamic footwork around the contest is coupled with a penetrating kick that he uses effectively to bring his teammates into play.
Archie Christie-Day
Sydney University
We know his big-game ability after booting four in last year’s U19s grand final. Has backed that up with another strong year as the former Sydney Swans Academy product inches closer towards a senior debut.
Cooper Flint
UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Forward
Currently leads the goalscoring ranks in the U19s division with 31 goals from 12 games. Has been rewarded with his men’s Premier Division debut in June and looks to have a bright future as a key forward.
Angus Langley
South West Sydney Blues
Midfield/Small forward
Carries the nickname ‘Bull’ because of his ability to lurk and hit hard with a rib tickler. His defensive pressure, thirst for the contest and crafty ball use makes him a very dangerous inside player.
James Lugsdin
Manly Wolves
Midfield
A midfield game breaker with a presence that belies his young age, ‘Luggo’ has had a breakout year at every level. He’s a genuine ball magnet, extremely strong, quick and has elite aerobic capacity. These attributes sit well alongside a work ethic that is every coach’s dream.
Khy Gibbs
South West Sydney Blues
Half-back/Midfield
A smooth mover and silky user of the football. Is able to get his own ball both in the contest and in aerial competition and can also provide run and carry making him a very difficult player to match up on.
Thomas Charles
UTS Bats
Was part of the senior team that took part in the pre-season invitational and has been able to make his senior debut throughout the season. In six games of U19s action he has kicked nine goals and been rated among the best five times.
Cooper McClennan
Manly Wolves
Wing
A hard running wingman who can post up at either end of the ground, sitting in the hole, helping the defence one minute and thrusting forward to get on the end of a scoring chain the next. ‘Coop’ is also a skilful ball user who is an ideal link up man on transition.
Kieran Thomas
East Coast Eagles
After getting a taste of Premier Reserves last year, Thomas has graduated to make his Premier Division debut for the Eagles. Has been rated among the best for East Coast in 12 of 14 U19s games this season.
Riley Hawes
Pennant Hills Demons
A new recruit for the Demons this season after coming down from Maitland. His form in the U19s saw him boot 19 goals in six games, and from the moment he made his Premier Division debut in late May he has been a regular ever since.
Caleb May
South West Sydney Blues
Ruck/Key Forward
Among the best young ruck talents in Sydney. Commands the stoppages particularly against seasoned footballers in a position that usually takes young men years to develop. Impacts when he moves forward as he’s able to take contested marks and kick set shots.
Sam McMeekin
Manly Wolves
Midfield
An in and under midfielder, ‘Sammy’ has a great balance to his game. He’s equally happy feeding hands to his teammates or laying tackles to hold up the opposition. With old fashioned footy smarts and genuine toughness, he’s a really mature and consistent performer every week.
Tye Gander
St George Dragons
A high level talent coming off a Coates League campaign with the Swans last season and also a stint with the Allies at the U18s National Championships. Has starred for the Dragons in the Premier Division with 31 goals for the year, including hauls of six and seven.
Rhys Seurberlich
Macquarie University
Midfield
Rhys is a great talent as a footballer, with an excellent kick and is super athletic. His endeavour and commitment to go hard into any contest is impressive for a 17-year-old against grown men. He has shown a commitment both on and off the field to help out the club in whatever role possible while injured, something highly valued by Macquarie University.
Tyler Sheehan
Manly Wolves
Half-back
A half-back who provides something different when he injects himself in the midfield, ‘Tiz’ is a multifaceted footballer. He locks down well but with good decision making and foot skills, he also starts many attacks from deep in defence. He’s well-built too, often lending his power in the mids to add some real grunt around stoppages.
Manly Wolves
Midfield
Zali has followed up two consecutive AFL Sydney Juniors league best and fairest awards by cementing a spot in the Premier team. Hails from a basketball background, and brings agility, speed and power from that sport, to go with a great reading of the game, tenacity and ball skills.
Ella Parker
UTS Bats
Half-back/Half-forward
Has come through the Swans Academy and that experience has been on full display with the Bats. She’s had to endure a busy schedule with U18s National Championships and the Coates League, but will prove a key figure in the run to the finals.
Annabelle McHale
South West Sydney Blues
Cemented herself as one of the most exciting up and coming players in the competition. A silky ball user and a footballer that can play in every position on the ground her height, speed and athleticism is what sets her apart.
Georgia Keen
Parramatta Goannas
Proving herself as a dominant force in the Women’s U20s division with an incredible 37 goals from her 11 games this season. Has booted some big bags throughout 2024 and has been rewarded with a few games in the seniors.
Elise Wallace
Manly Wolves
Elise has only converted to Aussie rules from Soccer in the last few years. She brings a great tenacity and endeavour to her play that sees her as a leading player in the Wolves backline. Elise uses her speed to great advantage and is an excellent one-on-one competitor.
Jade Baskerville
South West Sydney Blues
In only her third year of Aussie rules, her progress is second to none at this point in her career. She is the last person you want to be tackled by and her work rate on the field is a standout.
Emma Byrne
North Shore Bombers
Has been a key part of the North Shore’s strong U20s season to date, booting home 23 goals in nine games to set up an impressive average. Has also given back off the field as a junior in helping to coach a fellow youth team.
Lauren Bull
Manly Wolves
Forward
Lauren is in to her second year as a valuable member of the Wolves forward line. She plays with great surety and composure and is very difficult to match up on with her speed and marking ability. Lauren is well on her way to great achievements in the game.
Alexis Paulo
South West Sydney Blues
Defender
A brick wall in defence after a year off footy. Recovering from injury, she has come back better than ever and has made an impact over the last few weeks. At the rate she’s going she will make an immediate impact when playing senior football full time.
Lucy Smith
Sydney University
The former Victorian has shown her class since making the move north. Been a standout in all six games at the U20s level for Sydney Uni and that form has seen her graduate up to the Premier Division for a handful of games.
Charlotte Tidemann
North Shore Bombers
Wing/Midfield
Despite being just 15 years old, Tidemann is one of the most promising members of the Swans Academy. This year she has made her Premier Division debut, and was named among the best players in her first five games.
Darcie Prosser-Shaw
East Coast Eagles
Half-back
It’s quite extraordinary to think Prosser-Shaw is 15, and capped her Premier Division debut in style for East Coast with a Rising Star nomination. Is excelling in a new role at half-back where she has been able to run and gun.
Megan Mifsud
Parramatta Goannas
Another exciting prospect from the Giants Academy, Mifsud is an Allies representative who made her VFLW debut this season for the GWS. Is a regular in the Premier Division and has made a great impact in a team gunning for a flag.
Abbie Hayes
Manly Wolves
Ruck
Abbie is still in the U17s but is already making her mark at the Wolves. She dominates the ruck, winning the hit outs and then acting as an extra on-baller. Her aerobic capacity enables her to get around the ground and use her impressive vertical leap down back and in the forward line.
Karmel Potts
South West Sydney Blues
Half-back
A damaging running half-back with a very elite kick. A clean mover with ball in hand who is always demanding attention from opposition players. She has a bright future in this game and is someone who is a future leader of the program.
Great work, South West Blues!!!
RISING STARS: AFL Sydney’s unheralded young male, female talent from across the competition
The AFL Sydney competition is filled to the brim with rising stars destined for bright futures. We take a look at the 30+ unsung young men and women across the AFL Sydney divisions.There are plenty of young guns floating around in the AFL Sydney competitions who are set to take the next step in their Aussie rules journey.
We take a look at the 30+ young male and female unheralded talents who are shining across various divisions.
Male
Kohan PrenterSouth West Sydney Blues
Utility
Is able to play various positions across the midfield, back or forward line and impact with his running power and delivery of the football. His adaptability to play all positions and improved one-on-one defending has seen his success across the lines.
Louis Jans
Manly Wolves
Midfield
An inside midfielder with a good mix of pace and power, ‘Jansy’ is a real line breaker who loves taking the game on. His dynamic footwork around the contest is coupled with a penetrating kick that he uses effectively to bring his teammates into play.
Archie Christie-Day
Sydney University
We know his big-game ability after booting four in last year’s U19s grand final. Has backed that up with another strong year as the former Sydney Swans Academy product inches closer towards a senior debut.
Cooper Flint
UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Forward
Currently leads the goalscoring ranks in the U19s division with 31 goals from 12 games. Has been rewarded with his men’s Premier Division debut in June and looks to have a bright future as a key forward.
Angus Langley
South West Sydney Blues
Midfield/Small forward
Carries the nickname ‘Bull’ because of his ability to lurk and hit hard with a rib tickler. His defensive pressure, thirst for the contest and crafty ball use makes him a very dangerous inside player.
James Lugsdin
Manly Wolves
Midfield
A midfield game breaker with a presence that belies his young age, ‘Luggo’ has had a breakout year at every level. He’s a genuine ball magnet, extremely strong, quick and has elite aerobic capacity. These attributes sit well alongside a work ethic that is every coach’s dream.
Khy Gibbs
South West Sydney Blues
Half-back/Midfield
A smooth mover and silky user of the football. Is able to get his own ball both in the contest and in aerial competition and can also provide run and carry making him a very difficult player to match up on.
Thomas Charles
UTS Bats
Was part of the senior team that took part in the pre-season invitational and has been able to make his senior debut throughout the season. In six games of U19s action he has kicked nine goals and been rated among the best five times.
Cooper McClennan
Manly Wolves
Wing
A hard running wingman who can post up at either end of the ground, sitting in the hole, helping the defence one minute and thrusting forward to get on the end of a scoring chain the next. ‘Coop’ is also a skilful ball user who is an ideal link up man on transition.
Kieran Thomas
East Coast Eagles
After getting a taste of Premier Reserves last year, Thomas has graduated to make his Premier Division debut for the Eagles. Has been rated among the best for East Coast in 12 of 14 U19s games this season.
Riley Hawes
Pennant Hills Demons
A new recruit for the Demons this season after coming down from Maitland. His form in the U19s saw him boot 19 goals in six games, and from the moment he made his Premier Division debut in late May he has been a regular ever since.
Caleb May
South West Sydney Blues
Ruck/Key Forward
Among the best young ruck talents in Sydney. Commands the stoppages particularly against seasoned footballers in a position that usually takes young men years to develop. Impacts when he moves forward as he’s able to take contested marks and kick set shots.
Sam McMeekin
Manly Wolves
Midfield
An in and under midfielder, ‘Sammy’ has a great balance to his game. He’s equally happy feeding hands to his teammates or laying tackles to hold up the opposition. With old fashioned footy smarts and genuine toughness, he’s a really mature and consistent performer every week.
Tye Gander
St George Dragons
A high level talent coming off a Coates League campaign with the Swans last season and also a stint with the Allies at the U18s National Championships. Has starred for the Dragons in the Premier Division with 31 goals for the year, including hauls of six and seven.
Rhys Seurberlich
Macquarie University
Midfield
Rhys is a great talent as a footballer, with an excellent kick and is super athletic. His endeavour and commitment to go hard into any contest is impressive for a 17-year-old against grown men. He has shown a commitment both on and off the field to help out the club in whatever role possible while injured, something highly valued by Macquarie University.
Tyler Sheehan
Manly Wolves
Half-back
A half-back who provides something different when he injects himself in the midfield, ‘Tiz’ is a multifaceted footballer. He locks down well but with good decision making and foot skills, he also starts many attacks from deep in defence. He’s well-built too, often lending his power in the mids to add some real grunt around stoppages.
FEMALE
Zali CurrieManly Wolves
Midfield
Zali has followed up two consecutive AFL Sydney Juniors league best and fairest awards by cementing a spot in the Premier team. Hails from a basketball background, and brings agility, speed and power from that sport, to go with a great reading of the game, tenacity and ball skills.
Ella Parker
UTS Bats
Half-back/Half-forward
Has come through the Swans Academy and that experience has been on full display with the Bats. She’s had to endure a busy schedule with U18s National Championships and the Coates League, but will prove a key figure in the run to the finals.
Annabelle McHale
South West Sydney Blues
Cemented herself as one of the most exciting up and coming players in the competition. A silky ball user and a footballer that can play in every position on the ground her height, speed and athleticism is what sets her apart.
Georgia Keen
Parramatta Goannas
Proving herself as a dominant force in the Women’s U20s division with an incredible 37 goals from her 11 games this season. Has booted some big bags throughout 2024 and has been rewarded with a few games in the seniors.
Elise Wallace
Manly Wolves
Elise has only converted to Aussie rules from Soccer in the last few years. She brings a great tenacity and endeavour to her play that sees her as a leading player in the Wolves backline. Elise uses her speed to great advantage and is an excellent one-on-one competitor.
Jade Baskerville
South West Sydney Blues
In only her third year of Aussie rules, her progress is second to none at this point in her career. She is the last person you want to be tackled by and her work rate on the field is a standout.
Emma Byrne
North Shore Bombers
Has been a key part of the North Shore’s strong U20s season to date, booting home 23 goals in nine games to set up an impressive average. Has also given back off the field as a junior in helping to coach a fellow youth team.
Lauren Bull
Manly Wolves
Forward
Lauren is in to her second year as a valuable member of the Wolves forward line. She plays with great surety and composure and is very difficult to match up on with her speed and marking ability. Lauren is well on her way to great achievements in the game.
Alexis Paulo
South West Sydney Blues
Defender
A brick wall in defence after a year off footy. Recovering from injury, she has come back better than ever and has made an impact over the last few weeks. At the rate she’s going she will make an immediate impact when playing senior football full time.
Lucy Smith
Sydney University
The former Victorian has shown her class since making the move north. Been a standout in all six games at the U20s level for Sydney Uni and that form has seen her graduate up to the Premier Division for a handful of games.
Charlotte Tidemann
North Shore Bombers
Wing/Midfield
Despite being just 15 years old, Tidemann is one of the most promising members of the Swans Academy. This year she has made her Premier Division debut, and was named among the best players in her first five games.
Darcie Prosser-Shaw
East Coast Eagles
Half-back
It’s quite extraordinary to think Prosser-Shaw is 15, and capped her Premier Division debut in style for East Coast with a Rising Star nomination. Is excelling in a new role at half-back where she has been able to run and gun.
Megan Mifsud
Parramatta Goannas
Another exciting prospect from the Giants Academy, Mifsud is an Allies representative who made her VFLW debut this season for the GWS. Is a regular in the Premier Division and has made a great impact in a team gunning for a flag.
Abbie Hayes
Manly Wolves
Ruck
Abbie is still in the U17s but is already making her mark at the Wolves. She dominates the ruck, winning the hit outs and then acting as an extra on-baller. Her aerobic capacity enables her to get around the ground and use her impressive vertical leap down back and in the forward line.
Karmel Potts
South West Sydney Blues
Half-back
A damaging running half-back with a very elite kick. A clean mover with ball in hand who is always demanding attention from opposition players. She has a bright future in this game and is someone who is a future leader of the program.
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One of my sons played for South West Blues under 18s pre-Covid when they were the Campbelltown Blues and were struggling to make numbers. There were a handful of talented young guys that primarily played League but would double-up in Aussie rules for fun.
I'm pleased that they have a resurgence of talent.
I'm pleased that they have a resurgence of talent.
My family lives in the Carnes Hill area and every time I go down I notice a footy presence, particularly at Carnes Hill Marketplace. I've seen someone donning NSW/ACT AFL or Giants related gear most times I've been.
I was at the Willowdale Hotel yesterday and shocked to see a TV with footy on even though league was on.
Not sure what it's like further Campbelltown way but the surrounding suburbs where my family is seems tolerant to footy, probably not friendly levels yet but still.
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New AFL Superkick program had 160 participants at a single session in Auburn, NSW.
aflnswact.com.au
A super cool program calls for a superstar ambassador!
Australian rules superstar and icon of the game, Buddy Franklin, will help instil a love of footy into the next generation as the official ambassador for NAB AFL Superkick.
The dual premiership player and eight-time All Australian has teamed up with the AFL to support a range of game development initiatives, including its brand-new participation program for 8-12-year-olds, which aims to connect more children to footy.
NAB AFL Superkick – touted as the cool ‘older sibling’ of NAB AFL Auskick – has been specifically designed for children who are either looking to develop their footy skills or who are picking up a footy for the first time.
Delivered at the same location each week, the one-hour sessions are broken down into four quarters consisting of engaging skill games and activities (15 minutes) followed by match play (45 minutes).
NAB AFL Superkick is tackle-free, has smaller team sizes and a shorter season, providing the perfect introduction for new participants or pathway for continual play after the end of local club footy.
Since registrations for NAB AFL Superkick opened earlier this season, the program has now reached its first milestone, recording more than 10,000 registered participants across 364 Superkick Centres around the country.
With nearly one quarter of these participants having a parent born overseas, NAB AFL Superkick is helping connect more people to the game and significantly contributed to the AFL’s new all-time registered participation record.
AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development, Rob Auld, said appointing Franklin to help grow the game via game development initiatives including NAB AFL Superkick was an easy decision.
“We’re thrilled to have Lance on board as an ambassador for NAB AFL Superkick to help officially launch the program this year, and grow its visibility and popularity across the country,” Auld said.
“Lance not only achieved an incredible amount on the field during his career, but he also inspired a whole generation of young children, so to have him giving back to game development initiatives will help strengthen our foundation and grassroots.
“Pleasingly, participation in NAB AFL Superkick has started to jump, and we’re seeing the number of registrations continue to rise in all states and territories, especially in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
“A few weeks ago, we saw more than 3,000 participants take part in NAB AFL Superkick holiday clinics around Australia, while we had 160 participants at a single session in Auburn (NSW) where 77 per cent of players had a parent born overseas, hailing from 15 different cultures.
“In developing NAB AFL Superkick it was important to ensure the program was family friendly and easily accessible, so all venues are local, it’s tackle-free, affordable and simple to register.
“I’d like to thank NAB for their continual support and investment in our game. We know they have played a vital role in our NAB AFL Auskick program for almost two decades, and we’re thrilled this partnership now extends to our new Superkick format too.”
On the Gold Coast to celebrate his new role as a NAB AFL Superkick ambassador and surprise 11-year-old Charley Biggins as the 10,000th participant, Franklin said he was eager to play a role in growing the game.
“Footy has been a big part of my life, and I’m excited to team up with the AFL to help promote game development initiatives such as NAB AFL Superkick – it’s a great new program that kids will really enjoy,” Franklin said.
“The game is about more than kicking a footy and learning new skills, it’s about the connection with your community, making friends and having fun. It’s these experiences as I kid that I remember and why I want the next generation to love Aussie Rules.”
NAB Group Executive Les Matheson said NAB is pleased to expand its partnership with the AFL to launch this new program.
“We’re passionate about our role in helping to grow the game around Australia.
“We’re proud that our partnership with Superkick will give more opportunities for kids, coaches and communities to build connections through their love of footy.
“It’s great to see the first generation of Superkickers already lacing up their boots and kicking goals, alongside legends like Buddy.”
About NAB AFL Superkick
– NAB AFL Superkick is the league’s new program that encourages more children to get involved and connect with Australian rules football.
– NAB AFL Superkick invites all children aged 8-12 no matter their knowledge, skill or ability, to participate in the tackle-free program.
– In weekly sessions, kids focus on developing skills before putting them into action with modified match-play.
– NAB AFL Superkick offers an inclusive environment for everyone to get involved, with optional ‘All Girls’ programs available.
– Upon signing up, all community Superkickers get an awesome pack filled with cool footy goodies not available anywhere else.
A super cool program calls for a superstar ambassador! - AFL NSW / ACT
Australian rules superstar and icon of the game, Buddy Franklin, will help instil a love of footy into the next generation as the official ambassador for NAB AFL Superkick. The dual premiership player and eight-time All Australian has teamed up…Read more ›
aflnswact.com.au
A super cool program calls for a superstar ambassador!
Australian rules superstar and icon of the game, Buddy Franklin, will help instil a love of footy into the next generation as the official ambassador for NAB AFL Superkick.
The dual premiership player and eight-time All Australian has teamed up with the AFL to support a range of game development initiatives, including its brand-new participation program for 8-12-year-olds, which aims to connect more children to footy.
NAB AFL Superkick – touted as the cool ‘older sibling’ of NAB AFL Auskick – has been specifically designed for children who are either looking to develop their footy skills or who are picking up a footy for the first time.
Delivered at the same location each week, the one-hour sessions are broken down into four quarters consisting of engaging skill games and activities (15 minutes) followed by match play (45 minutes).
NAB AFL Superkick is tackle-free, has smaller team sizes and a shorter season, providing the perfect introduction for new participants or pathway for continual play after the end of local club footy.
Since registrations for NAB AFL Superkick opened earlier this season, the program has now reached its first milestone, recording more than 10,000 registered participants across 364 Superkick Centres around the country.
With nearly one quarter of these participants having a parent born overseas, NAB AFL Superkick is helping connect more people to the game and significantly contributed to the AFL’s new all-time registered participation record.
AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development, Rob Auld, said appointing Franklin to help grow the game via game development initiatives including NAB AFL Superkick was an easy decision.
“We’re thrilled to have Lance on board as an ambassador for NAB AFL Superkick to help officially launch the program this year, and grow its visibility and popularity across the country,” Auld said.
“Lance not only achieved an incredible amount on the field during his career, but he also inspired a whole generation of young children, so to have him giving back to game development initiatives will help strengthen our foundation and grassroots.
“Pleasingly, participation in NAB AFL Superkick has started to jump, and we’re seeing the number of registrations continue to rise in all states and territories, especially in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
“A few weeks ago, we saw more than 3,000 participants take part in NAB AFL Superkick holiday clinics around Australia, while we had 160 participants at a single session in Auburn (NSW) where 77 per cent of players had a parent born overseas, hailing from 15 different cultures.
“In developing NAB AFL Superkick it was important to ensure the program was family friendly and easily accessible, so all venues are local, it’s tackle-free, affordable and simple to register.
“I’d like to thank NAB for their continual support and investment in our game. We know they have played a vital role in our NAB AFL Auskick program for almost two decades, and we’re thrilled this partnership now extends to our new Superkick format too.”
On the Gold Coast to celebrate his new role as a NAB AFL Superkick ambassador and surprise 11-year-old Charley Biggins as the 10,000th participant, Franklin said he was eager to play a role in growing the game.
“Footy has been a big part of my life, and I’m excited to team up with the AFL to help promote game development initiatives such as NAB AFL Superkick – it’s a great new program that kids will really enjoy,” Franklin said.
“The game is about more than kicking a footy and learning new skills, it’s about the connection with your community, making friends and having fun. It’s these experiences as I kid that I remember and why I want the next generation to love Aussie Rules.”
NAB Group Executive Les Matheson said NAB is pleased to expand its partnership with the AFL to launch this new program.
“We’re passionate about our role in helping to grow the game around Australia.
“We’re proud that our partnership with Superkick will give more opportunities for kids, coaches and communities to build connections through their love of footy.
“It’s great to see the first generation of Superkickers already lacing up their boots and kicking goals, alongside legends like Buddy.”
About NAB AFL Superkick
– NAB AFL Superkick is the league’s new program that encourages more children to get involved and connect with Australian rules football.
– NAB AFL Superkick invites all children aged 8-12 no matter their knowledge, skill or ability, to participate in the tackle-free program.
– In weekly sessions, kids focus on developing skills before putting them into action with modified match-play.
– NAB AFL Superkick offers an inclusive environment for everyone to get involved, with optional ‘All Girls’ programs available.
– Upon signing up, all community Superkickers get an awesome pack filled with cool footy goodies not available anywhere else.
Bjo187
Premiership Player
- Apr 30, 2020
- 3,923
- 5,541
- AFL Club
- Essendon
New AFL Superkick program had 160 participants at a single session in Auburn, NSW.
A super cool program calls for a superstar ambassador! - AFL NSW / ACT
Australian rules superstar and icon of the game, Buddy Franklin, will help instil a love of footy into the next generation as the official ambassador for NAB AFL Superkick. The dual premiership player and eight-time All Australian has teamed up…Read more ›
A super cool program calls for a superstar ambassador!
Australian rules superstar and icon of the game, Buddy Franklin, will help instil a love of footy into the next generation as the official ambassador for NAB AFL Superkick.
The dual premiership player and eight-time All Australian has teamed up with the AFL to support a range of game development initiatives, including its brand-new participation program for 8-12-year-olds, which aims to connect more children to footy.
NAB AFL Superkick – touted as the cool ‘older sibling’ of NAB AFL Auskick – has been specifically designed for children who are either looking to develop their footy skills or who are picking up a footy for the first time.
Delivered at the same location each week, the one-hour sessions are broken down into four quarters consisting of engaging skill games and activities (15 minutes) followed by match play (45 minutes).
NAB AFL Superkick is tackle-free, has smaller team sizes and a shorter season, providing the perfect introduction for new participants or pathway for continual play after the end of local club footy.
Since registrations for NAB AFL Superkick opened earlier this season, the program has now reached its first milestone, recording more than 10,000 registered participants across 364 Superkick Centres around the country.
With nearly one quarter of these participants having a parent born overseas, NAB AFL Superkick is helping connect more people to the game and significantly contributed to the AFL’s new all-time registered participation record.
AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development, Rob Auld, said appointing Franklin to help grow the game via game development initiatives including NAB AFL Superkick was an easy decision.
“We’re thrilled to have Lance on board as an ambassador for NAB AFL Superkick to help officially launch the program this year, and grow its visibility and popularity across the country,” Auld said.
“Lance not only achieved an incredible amount on the field during his career, but he also inspired a whole generation of young children, so to have him giving back to game development initiatives will help strengthen our foundation and grassroots.
“Pleasingly, participation in NAB AFL Superkick has started to jump, and we’re seeing the number of registrations continue to rise in all states and territories, especially in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
“A few weeks ago, we saw more than 3,000 participants take part in NAB AFL Superkick holiday clinics around Australia, while we had 160 participants at a single session in Auburn (NSW) where 77 per cent of players had a parent born overseas, hailing from 15 different cultures.
“In developing NAB AFL Superkick it was important to ensure the program was family friendly and easily accessible, so all venues are local, it’s tackle-free, affordable and simple to register.
“I’d like to thank NAB for their continual support and investment in our game. We know they have played a vital role in our NAB AFL Auskick program for almost two decades, and we’re thrilled this partnership now extends to our new Superkick format too.”
On the Gold Coast to celebrate his new role as a NAB AFL Superkick ambassador and surprise 11-year-old Charley Biggins as the 10,000th participant, Franklin said he was eager to play a role in growing the game.
“Footy has been a big part of my life, and I’m excited to team up with the AFL to help promote game development initiatives such as NAB AFL Superkick – it’s a great new program that kids will really enjoy,” Franklin said.
“The game is about more than kicking a footy and learning new skills, it’s about the connection with your community, making friends and having fun. It’s these experiences as I kid that I remember and why I want the next generation to love Aussie Rules.”
NAB Group Executive Les Matheson said NAB is pleased to expand its partnership with the AFL to launch this new program.
“We’re passionate about our role in helping to grow the game around Australia.
“We’re proud that our partnership with Superkick will give more opportunities for kids, coaches and communities to build connections through their love of footy.
“It’s great to see the first generation of Superkickers already lacing up their boots and kicking goals, alongside legends like Buddy.”
About NAB AFL Superkick
– NAB AFL Superkick is the league’s new program that encourages more children to get involved and connect with Australian rules football.
– NAB AFL Superkick invites all children aged 8-12 no matter their knowledge, skill or ability, to participate in the tackle-free program.
– In weekly sessions, kids focus on developing skills before putting them into action with modified match-play.
– NAB AFL Superkick offers an inclusive environment for everyone to get involved, with optional ‘All Girls’ programs available.
– Upon signing up, all community Superkickers get an awesome pack filled with cool footy goodies not available anywhere else.
It's a great concept actually. I remember I did auskick as a kid, it was called Vickick back then here in Melbourne. But I remember finishing it and being sad. I didnt really wanna play competitive footy at that age. So it's taken a while for them to offer an alternative like this instead of straight over to club footy, but finally they have introduced a good concept.
Club footy is more serious, you've gotta train, show up every Sunday for a game in the wet etc. Auskick nobody cares if you show up or not. It's skills, a bit of match play, all parents there etc. I thought it was great back in the day and would have kept doing it to an older age if i could.
Also that number in Auburn western sydney is amazing.
From Auskick to AFL, the other stars taking the field on Saturday
Auskickers from six NSW clubs are getting ready for their half-time moment in front of 45,000 at the SCG in Saturday’s all-Sydney qualifying final.
www.smh.com.au
From Auskick to AFL, the other stars taking the field on Saturday
Auskickers from six NSW clubs are getting ready for their half-time moment in front of 45,000 at the SCG in Saturday’s all-Sydney qualifying final.
From Auskick to AFL, the other stars taking the field on Saturday
“I’m gonna kick four”, boasts eight-year-old Auskicker Gabriel Davies. Desperate to outdo him, his mate Jude Shineberg fires back: “Five, six, seven”.The Sydney Swans and GWS Giants, who meet in an AFL qualifying final, are not the only ones psyching themselves for the SCG on Saturday. Gabriel and Jude are preparing to show 45,000 fans how many goals they can kick at half-time.
Lisa Shineberg, Jude’s mother and Auskick co-ordinator of the Cronulla Sharks, says the success of the Swans and the Giants has piqued interest in Auskick, not least because of the non-contact rules of the youth game.
“It’s definitely growing. We’re getting more and more people choosing to come and have a look,” Shineberg says.
“Kids are having fun. They’re enjoying just learning a sport in a non-competitive environment; they seem to want to stay, and so it’s been really good the uptake.”
The Cronulla Auskickers are among six clubs specially chosen to take the field. Others will come from as far afield as Mangoplah in the Riverina to Coffs Harbour.
Auskick costs vary, but at Cronulla, it’s $150 a season. With public schools cutting back on sport it represents an affordable way for parents to get kids active.
Hunter Fujak, a lecturer in sports management at Deakin University, says when it comes to junior participation, the AFL is winning the battle “for hearts and minds and wallets” by funnelling the revenue it makes, considerably more than rugby league or union, into lower youth fees.
“There’s only 26 million of us, and so every sport is scratching to get junior participants as much as they can,” Fujak says. “And the AFL has done a really good job.”
On the day, the clubs each run their own “mini-matches”, splitting into teams of nine to play a version of Australian Rules adapted so five- to 12-year-olds can play together as their families, who get a ticket to the game, watch on.
Tackling isn’t allowed, though players can stand in the way but not steal the ball from whoever has possession. Bouncing or passing the ball is encouraged every 5–10 steps but not strictly enforced, and no one formally counts the score – though Lisa Shineberg says the kids always do.
It’s hoped that more children will get involved in 2025 following the hype around Saturday’s Sydney Derby and continued interest in the AFLW.
Girls now make up one-third of all registrations in NSW, while 30 per cent of Auskickers in NSW or the ACT also have a parent born overseas.
Shineberg says she has noticed the uptick of girls playing.
“It’s so accessible and inclusive as a non-contact way into AFL. The half-time Auskick is just the cherry on top.”
And as for who’s going to win on Saturday, for Gabriel, there’s only one answer: “Swans!”
Brave New World
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- Oct 31, 2009
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AFL Grand FInal: ‘Do we want to be the Australian NFL?’
Jessica Halloran and John Stensholt
The Australian
27 September 2024
It should be the AFL’s dream season decider.
A team from Sydney, the country’s biggest market, and Brisbane, from the other northern state the sport wants to conquer from the rugby codes.
Unprecedented interest across every state and territory could deliver a television ratings bonanza and Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham says he’s “never seen as much excitement about a grand final than this one” - that includes the previous six he has been part of at the club.
This AFL grand final match up between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground should be the NRL’s worst nightmare.
Crowds in NSW and Queensland are up to record levels, and Swans games have become the hottest tickets in town, consistently selling out the SCG and this year the Sydney club announced a record 70,740 members.
Meanwhile the game is in “rude health” in Queensland, the Lions are packing out stadiums and have a record 63,000 members.
But while this AFL finals series has showcased the code’s popularity, it has also raised issues, and begs the question: will Australian Football ever be a truly national game?
“There’s a big difference between having a national competition and a national game,” the longest serving Swans chairman and influential AFL figure Richard Colless told The Weekend Australian. “We’ve got a national competition, but we don’t have a national game…”
“But I would love to know, do we want to be the Australian NFL? Or are we comfortable that this is as good as it needs to get?”.
The AFL while it has its strengths in New South Wales and Queensland - it also has glaring weaknesses - and some would argue failures. The Gold Coast Suns have never made a finals series since their inception in 2011. And as respected rugby league official Geoff Carr once warned; Western Sydney really has become the AFL’s “Vietnam War”.
Over the past 15 years since the founding of the Giants the AFL has poured over $200 million into the franchise - and as evidenced in this 2024 finals series it is yet to grip the Western Sydney community. Some even argue the game is in “worse shape” than before the Giants set foot in the west.
The evidence was there to see on a September weekend in Homebush earlier this month.
On a cool Saturday night, just before the Sherrin was bounced, there were red empty seats everywhere at Engie Stadium. Despite the brilliant semi-final contest, narrowly won by a relentless Lions outfit, the game was a fizzer with the Western Sydney population. The next day over 50,000, mostly die-hard Canterbury Bulldogs fans jammed the Accor Stadium next door for another thrilling NRL final.
However a week later, in Sydney’s east, yet another sold out SCG crowd, this time for the Swans preliminary final win, was trumpeted as a sign of the AFL’s dominance in the state.
“It’s a reminder of the giant footprint that AFL is putting into NSW,” AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson said in regards to the huge crowd for the Swans and Port Adelaide final. “Before we’re dead, AFL will take over the rugby league. I’m telling you.”
The Australian Rugby League Commission boss Peter V’landys called that comment “delusional”.
Colless, who served as the first AFL NSW/ACT chairman and has a deep understanding of the game in the state, called Robinson to tell him he got it wrong.
“I think what’s happened is the success of the Swans this year in terms of crowds has sort of been seen as a proxy for the game as a whole, which is a massive mistake,” Colless said.
“The SCG is not Sydney and the Swans are not the AFL as a game. We’ve had a great year in every sense of the word at the same time, Greater Western Sydney, which was seen as such a growth opportunity that they created a team to play there…I have very high regard for what GWS has done on the football field.
“But if you were to speak to people at GWS, they will tell you, as they told me, that the game in Western Sydney is in worse shape in that market or that geography than it was before GWS arrived.”
In 2019, the pioneering Auburn Giants, Western Sydney’s first women’s AFL team, was shut down. A City of Parramatta report several years ago showed the AFL is the least popular of the 11 sports listed on a pie chart. The City of Parramatta — a home local government area of the Giants — showed AFL participation was just at one percent of nearly 20,000 participants (senior and junior). Some AFL types believe the franchise should be relocated to Canberra, others believe they should be renamed the Sydney Giants and play games at the SCG in time.
There is a sense from some sports officials in Western Sydney that the AFL’s “elitism”, disdain and disinterest in what makes rugby league tick, has cost them dearly.
Colless, who was a key architect of the Swans success in Sydney and the game’s success in NSW, said more respect needs to be paid to the code’s competition in the state if AFL is to grow.
“As I understand it the AFL is looking for a new [NSW] CEO and…I think this is the last roll of the dice, not for the game’s survival, but what I want to know is, does the AFL want to be the biggest game in Australia?” Colless said.
“There’s a big difference between having a national competition and a national game. We’ve got a national competition, but we don’t have a national game. That’s a fact of life and I think Andrew Dillon’s predecessor basically treated rugby league with contempt, there was no respect. And it still fascinates me after all this time, you talk to [AFL] people, they talk about rugby, and I say ‘when you say rugby, which game do you mean?’ They [league and union] are so different, they’re culturally different, economically different, the supporter bases are totally different. And if you don’t understand who your competition is then I think you’ve got a problem.”
In Queensland the sentiment is different. Participation is absolutely booming and local footy clubs are packed. The Lions CEO Greg Swann says his franchise is thriving and in turn believes the AFL is streets ahead of rugby league.
“I just think we are way ahead [of the NRL],” Swann said. “When Cronulla played a final next door to the SCG, the Swans had a full house, and Cronulla, you know, had whatever they had, which was not many. And so I think the ratings will be huge for this AFL grand final….so the code is going really well.”
Swann, who also served as a CEO of Collingwood and Carlton, said participation numbers in Queensland are booming and described the game as being “in rude health”.
“Up at our neck of the woods, our participation numbers have gone past South Australia, we’re now chasing down WA, so it’s really growing well up in Queensland,” Swann said.
Back in Sydney’s east, Pridham also thinks there will be “astronomical” interest in the grand final and noted that their club doesn’t see rugby league as a competitor.
“The Swans don’t necessarily see the NRL as a competitor,” Pridham said. “That is putting a very Victorian lens on things to think that way. I think we have our market, and they have theirs. Aussie Rules has already arrived here, and it has been here for some time.
“The numbers speak for themselves. We have 2 million fans and there is a great affection for the Swans now.”
With Richard Goyder’s tenure as AFL chairman soon to be up there is a quiet push for current Commission member Andrew Ireland to take over. Ireland has an unparalleled understanding of the northern AFL markets. He was a key player in both the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans successfully establishing themselves as both premiership clubs and hooking into their respective markets.
When Colless at a grand final business lunch in front of 500 people on Wednesday threw his public support behind Ireland. Colless’ endorsement earned rapturous applause from the audience.
However, it is understood that Goyder is considering yet another term and that Port Adelaide chair and media personality David Koch is also keen to chair the all powerful Commission.
Whoever is steering the Commission at the forefront will be the future of the Giants and what happens next and to capitalise on AFL chief Andrew Dillon’s hope of securing 1 million AFL participants by 2033.
In an interview with The Weekend Australian, Dillon said while the grand final matchup is “great for Queensland and NSW and the two teams we have got there” but admitted the AFL’s growth strategy in those states “can’t be reliant on those two teams making the grand final…but hopefully it will stimulate more interest there.”
It has been nearly two decades of investment in both States and he knows there is more work to be done, especially in Sydney’s west.
“In parts of Sydney where we’re, we’re strong, but there’s other parts where we’ve still got a lot of work to do. There’s a challenge and opportunity and certainly in the West [of Sydney] there’s, there’s a big awareness issue for us there, and we know that, and so we’ve got to continue to work to resolve it.”
Overall, a couple good points highlighted within that story that I hope the AFL will be addressing.
Couple things which has me thinking some aspects have been written in a way to emphasise certain aspects (usually negative) but not others.
Couple things which has me thinking some aspects have been written in a way to emphasise certain aspects (usually negative) but not others.
Unclear why a report from several years ago is being referenced for this story. I cannot imagine it's particularly useful, except for perhaps a snapshot in time. That would've been approx 5 years into the Giants existence... How big was footy expected to be in Western Sydney by that stage?
I assume AFL types refers to footy fan discourse online and elsewhere.
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- Aug 6, 2021
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Wish your board would convince the AFL to switch the Illawarra catchment to GWS.
The game is definitely growing down here. Would be good for your fan retention too.
The game is definitely growing down here. Would be good for your fan retention too.
Bjo187
Premiership Player
- Apr 30, 2020
- 3,923
- 5,541
- AFL Club
- Essendon
Expect the hit job articles on the giants to go up now that the swans are so big. The Sydney nrl media need to focus on a negative afl story to ward off any potential further growth in the sport.
It's interesting giants crowds, memberships and social media followers (most in the comp on percentage) are up this year, so they swing over to participation. Of course it can be improved, but can we take a look at the rugby league participation numbers in Victoria please? and compare the amount of local players produced for the giants compared to the storm despite the giants being in existence for half the time?
- Oct 31, 2016
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- qpr
Swans would only agree if we gave up something like Canberra. Will be funny to see how much the Swans react negatively if Canberra come in as a separate team . They will have to lose some of their sydney zone to us I would imagine (probably inner west, St george, sutherland).
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- Aug 6, 2021
- 10,498
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Reckon the AFL care more about expanding the game in NSW than they care about being the Swans' sugar-daddy.
It'd be better for the comp for you guys to be able to list more regions of NSW in your academy at Sydney's expense.
Yes, we need to look at the positive with the negative. I acknowledge all the valid challenges and issues.
That we're a 13 year old club never gets mentioned.
Creating, holding and building a supporter base from nothing is something that never gets mentioned.
This years semi-final had a bigger attendance than the previous semi against West Coast.
Crowds are up. Membership is up. My understanding is that TV views are also up.
Mistakes, setbacks and missteps have been made, yet gains are also being made.
Totally agree on all points made and that is my understanding also.
If you remove the noise, the overall trend is up. I was incredibly pleased to see the amount of growth this year, definitely skewing more Giants way (and the base becoming more vocal and passionate).
I was incredibly heartened seeing so many Giants (in western Sydney and from my suburb) turnout for the semi-final. We're not going to go from our average numbers to sellout immediately. Time, patience and compound growth required.
Yep. We're still very much a work in progress. Mistakes, setbacks, missteps are part and parcel with expansion in a new market. I doubt anyone has intentionally gone out to make them, they happen due to so many unknowns at the time. Hindsight is always a good teacher.
I am sure once the club/league club finds the perfect formula for our market, I reckon numbers will take off (with the help of compound growth).
Just look at the Swans (only mentioning as they've been mentioned in the article and we get compared to), they've found their formula in both AFLM and AFLW. They've had time to finesse theirs for over 40+ years.
We'll find ours. Give it time and keep at it is all I'll say.
Sometimes taking a step back from those kinds of articles also helps as there's a number of them, all seemingly with similar undertones. It's not as bad as it's made out to be.
I as a fan (and I am sure all our fans) would love a packed out stadium week in and week out but it's understandably not where we're at on our journey and that expectation isn't realistic at this time.
I am thoroughly enjoying those who do turn up, week in week out and newbies who are embracing our game/club and doing the same. Watching the growth and changes (even if some of them are telltale signs, that most others who do not attend our games cannot see) is so heartening as a fan.
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